With all the different depression and anxiety medications on the market, it can be hard to know which drug is which. Lexapro and Zoloft are two of the more commonly prescribed medications for mood disorders such as depression.

These drugs are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs work by increasing levels of serotonin, a substance in your brain that helps maintain your mood. Read on to learn more about similarities and differences between Lexapro and Zoloft.

Lexapro is prescribed to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Zoloft is prescribed to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and several other mental health conditions. The table below compares the conditions each drug is approved to treat.

Condition

Zoloft

Lexapro

depression

X

X

generalized anxiety disorder

X

obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

X

panic disorder

X

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

X

social anxiety disorder

X

premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

X

The table below compares other key aspects of Zoloft and Lexapro.

Brand name

Zoloft

Lexapro

What is the generic drug?

sertraline

escitalopram

What forms does it come in?

oral tablet, oral solution

oral tablet, oral solution

What strengths does it come in?

tablet: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg; solution: 20 mg/mL

tablet: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg; solution: 1 mg/mL

Who can take it?

people 18 years and older*

people 12 years and older

What is the dosage?

determined by your doctor

determined by your doctor

What is the typical length of treatment?

long-term

long-term

How do I store this drug?

at room temperature away from excess heat or moisture

at room temperature away from excess heat or moisture

Is there a risk of withdrawal with this drug?

yes†

yes†

*Except for treating OCD† If you’ve been taking this drug for longer than a few weeks, don’t stop taking it without talking to your doctor. You’ll need to taper off the drug slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Both medications are available in most pharmacies in brand-name and generic versions. Generics are generally cheaper than brand-name products. At the time this article was written, the prices for the brand-name and generic versions of Lexapro and Zoloft were similar, according to GoodRx.com.

Health insurance plans typically cover antidepressant medications such as Lexapro and Zoloft, but prefer you to use the generic forms.

The charts below list examples of side effects of Lexapro and Zoloft. Because Lexapro and Zoloft are both SSRIs, they share many of the same side effects.

Common side effects

Lexapro

Zoloft

nausea

X

X

sleepiness

X

X

weakness

X

X

dizziness

X

X

anxiety

X

X

sleeping trouble

X

X

sexual problems

X

X

sweating

X

X

shaking

X

X

loss of appetite

X

X

dry mouth

X

X

constipation

X

respiratory infections

X

X

yawning

X

X

diarrhea

X

X

indigestion

X

X

Serious side effects

Lexapro

Zoloft

suicidal actions or thoughts

X

X

serotonin syndrome*

X

X

severe allergic reactions

X

X

abnormal bleeding

X

X

seizures or convulsions

X

X

manic episodes

X

X

weight gain or loss

X

X

low sodium (salt) levels in the blood

X

X

eye problems**

X

X

*Serotonin syndrome is a condition that can occur when the levels of serotonin, a chemical produced by your body, become too high. Serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening.**Eye problems can include blurry vision, double vision, dry eyes, and pressure in the eyes.

A concern that many people have about taking antidepressants is weight gain. It’s true that many antidepressants can cause weight gain, but some drugs are thought to cause less weight gain than others. Lexapro and Zoloft are two antidepressants that may cause less weight gain. If you’re concerned about this effect from taking an antidepressant, talk with your doctor.

The drug interactions of Lexapro and Zoloft are very similar. Before starting Lexapro or Zoloft, tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you take, especially if they’re listed below. This information can help your doctor prevent possible interactions.

The chart below compares examples of drugs that can interact with Lexapro or Zoloft.

Interacting drugs

Lexapro

Zoloft

monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as selegiline and phenelzine

x

x

pimozide

x

x

blood thinners such as warfarin and aspirin

x

x

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen

Conditions of concern

Lexapro and Zoloft contain many of the same warnings for use with other medical conditions. For example, both medications are pregnancy category C drugs. This means that if you’re pregnant, you should only use these medications if the benefits are greater than the risk to your pregnancy.

The chart below lists other medical conditions you should discuss with your doctor before taking Lexapro or Zoloft.

Medical conditions to discuss with your doctor

Lexapro

Zoloft

liver problems

X

X

seizure disorder

X

X

bipolar disorder

X

X

kidney problems

X

Risk of suicide

Both Lexapro and Zoloft raise the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults. In fact, Zoloft is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat children younger than 18 years, except for those with OCD. Lexapro is not approved for children younger than 12 years.

To find out more about how Lexapro and Zoloft are alike and different, talk with your doctor. They’ll be able to tell you if one of these drugs, or a different drug, could help you with your mental health condition. Some questions that might be helpful to ask your doctor include:

How long will it take before I feel the benefits of this medication?

What is the appropriate time of day for me to take this medication?

Which side effects should I expect from this medication, and will they go away?

Q:

Which is better for treating OCD or anxiety—Lexapro or Zoloft?

A:

Zoloft, but not Lexapro, is approved to help relieve the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. OCD is a common and long-lasting condition. It causes uncontrollable thoughts and urges to perform certain behaviors again and again. As for anxiety, Zoloft is approved to treat social anxiety disorder, and is sometimes used off-label to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Lexapro is approved to treat GAD and can be used off-label to treat social anxiety disorder and panic disorder. If you have OCD or anxiety, talk with your doctor about what drug might be best for you.

Healthline Medical TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Medically reviewed by Lindsay Slowiczek, PharmD on August 23, 2016 — Written by University of Illinois-Chicago, Drug Information Group